In a Japanese first, a gondola at the Risonare Yatsugatake ski resort in the mountains of Yamanashi prefecture has been converted into a private office,…

Of the three execution grounds of Edo-era Tokyo, the busiest was Koppakatsu. It is said that 100-200,000 criminals were beheaded at Koppakatsu during the Tokugara…

Japan has no shortage of superstitious symbols. Like in other cultures, residents have traditionally attributed mythical qualities to various animals and their representations. Maneki neko,…

If you’ve been following Japanese manga, anime, or games, you probably already know that characters sporting kemonomimi 獣耳, or animal ears (and by extension, tails…

For better or worse, cats have a long history of selling things in Japan. Take, for example, maneki neko 招き猫, so-called “beckoning cat” statues, which…

The coronavirus pandemic, and the fear of infection that goes with it, continue to have unforeseen consequences, with all kinds of businesses having to adapt…

iXima is a Japanese illustrator whose artwork has been used for official Vocaloid packaging. They’re also known for creating an image of Hatsune Miku chilling…

Loft is a chain of stores in Japan that can only be categorized as a “variety store” due to the wide assortment of things they…

You may have seen collaboration menu items at anime-themed cafes and restaurants, with the occasional cocktail also included for good measure. For example, we enjoyed…

Theaters and concert halls in Japan have been reopened since June, but with new measures in place to ensure social distance. For example, as reported…

Now nearing the end of its opening week, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba the Movie: Mugen Train,” which smashed previous domestic records for opening weekend…

Although scammers exist all over the world, the problem of phone fraud is particularly acute in Japan, where the elderly are often targeted as easy…

The Studio Ghibli Museum showcases the work of the world-famous animation studio responsible for popular films like Howl’s Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbour Totoro,…

For a city of its size, and the capital of a country with such a strong graphic art tradition, it’s surprising not to see more…

Over the years, Japan has come up with robots that serve almost any purpose you can think of, from things like delivering packages to securing…